During the holidays our thoughts often turn into checklists … meals to prepare, cards to send, a tree to trim, and of course gifts to purchase. But in the midst of all this holiday list-making, there is still a palpable feeling of excitement that hovers in the air like a light fog rolling in off the Sound on a classic Pacific Northwest morning. This really is the most wonderful time of the year.

There are so many reasons to love the holidays, many are personal and involve our families, others are closely held and involve our faith, and some are just downright unique to life on Whidbey Island and the wonderful experience that comes from calling it home.

Shopping downtown Oak Harbor is one of those things. It’s easy to love the lighted snowflakes that hang off the street lamps, the holiday displays in the windows, the scented candles burning in the shops, and the thrill of running into people you know as you quickly peek into each others shopping bags to show off new purchases with whispered promises to keep the items a secret.

So when it comes times to shop for the holidays, shopping locally in Oak Harbor is the place to be.

This year, shopping local takes on even more meaning. In addition to the ambiance, the personalized service, and the chance to connect with neighbors, we can take comfort in knowing that the purchases you make locally are doing a lot to improve the quality of life for many people we care about and for a community we all love.

Today’s economy has taken its toll on many, and if you had a choice (which you do) of spending your money with large faceless corporation, or with one of the local stores in our community, we at the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce encourage you to choose your hometown.

It’s not that going to the mall is bad. In fact, it can be fun. But the holidays are more than just pure capitalism; they are a time to give generously, and a time to take stock of our values. By doing our holiday shopping locally we are supporting local shopkeepers and helping preserve jobs that support families in our community.

Local gift-buying supports the local tax-base and funds other things of value, like parks, roads, and public transit.

Shopping in Oak Harbor preserves our choices, and preserves our community. It is said that local businesses donate to community charities and causes at twice the rate of national chains. That means that the money spent with a local merchant will have twice the effect, and it’s easy to feel good about that. It’s impossible to give to every great cause, but your shopping can support merchants in our community and give them a chance to give where you can’t.

So this holiday season remember, there’s really “No place Like Home for the holidays” and that anyone can HO! HO! HO, but the best holiday’s begin with OH! OH! OH!

Jill Johnson is executive director of the Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce.